The Expedition of the Donner Party and Its Tragic Fate

CHAPTER VIII ANOTHER STORK -- FOUR DEATHS IN DONNER CAMP -- FIELD
MICE USED FOR FOOD -- CHANGED APPEARANCE OF THE
STARVING -- SUNSHINE -- DEPARTURE OF THE "FORLORN
HOPE"--WATCHING FOR RELIEF -- IMPOSSIBLE TO DISTURB THE BODIES OF THE DEAD IN DONNER CAMP -- ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE OF THE FIRST RELIEF PARTY.

MEANWHILE with us in the Sierras, November
ended with four days and nights of continuous
snow, and December rushed in with a wild, shrieking
storm of wind, sleet, and rain, which ceased on the
third. The weather remained clear and cold until the
ninth, when Milton Elliot and Noah James came on
snowshoes to Donner's camp, from the lake cabins, to
ascertain if their captain was still alive, and to report
the condition of the rest of the company.

Before morning, another terrific storm came swirling and whistling down our snowy stairway, making
fires unsafe, freezing every drop of water about the
camp, and shutting us in from the light of heaven.
Ten days later Milton Elliot alone fought his way
back to the lake camp with these tidings: " Jacob
Donner, Samuel Shoemaker, Joseph Rhinehart, and

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